Breakfast Links: 2016 ends with lower crime

As of Thursday, DC recorded 134 homicides, compared to 162 in 2015. Crime in DC is down 4 percent and violent crime is down 10 percent from last year. Overall, the region has recorded 297 homicides this year. (Washington Times, Post)Twitter

Amtrak's new CEO, Charles Moorman, said that repairing infrastructure and adding new trains for Acela are high priorities, and that he has met with the Trump transition team to discuss the importance of Amtrak. (WBUR)Twitter

As some aging malls are torn down to be transformed into walkable town squares, others like Beltway Plaza see new life as a social spot for immigrants who fill the wide concourses with businesses. (Post)Twitter

DC police arrested and charged a man with attempting to sexually assault a woman at a hotel. The alleged perpetrator had been caught on surveillance cameras and police tracked him for weeks through his SmarTrip card. (Post)Twitter

The DC area continues to record an unemployment rate lower than the national average, falling to 3.7 percent in November. Overall, unemployment rates fell in 271 of 387 total metropolitan areas around the country. (WTOP)Twitter

The Travilah Quarry in Rockville could be a suitable place for DC's backup water supply in case there's a pollution spill on the Potomac. The quarry company has expressed interested in its potential as a reservoir. (WTOP)Twitter

Planners in Central Long Beach in California enlisted children to help draft their Pedestrian Master Plan, the first of its kind in Central Long Beach. The plan will target low-income areas that need more walkable streets. (NextCity)Twitter

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Joanne Tang is a Northern Virginia native and a graduate student in public administration and policy, focusing on resiliency and emergency response. She lives in Alexandria and enjoys learning about pretty much everything, including the history of pencils.